TN Record Paddlefish

[galyonj]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/monster-fish-reeled-angler-may-212229420.html

 

Quote

 

Weighing in at 149 pounds, the 6.5-foot beast is officially the largest paddlefish ever caught in the state of Tennessee.

 

 

[Jar11591]

Whoa big hoss paddlefish. Those things look like mutants. 

[galyonj]

1 minute ago, Jar11591 said:

Whoa big hoss paddlefish. Those things look like mutants. 

 

That's a real-life dinosaur. American Paddlefish are one of the oldest living species of ray-finned fish, with records dating back 65 million years.

[Jar11591]

7 minutes ago, galyonj said:

 

That's a real-life dinosaur. American Paddlefish are one of the oldest living species of ray-finned fish, with records dating back 65 million years.

I believe they’re related to sturgeon as well which are also dinosaurs. In some waters they have really strict protections. What a cool fish. 

[galyonj]

Just now, Jar11591 said:

I believe they’re related to sturgeon as well which are also dinosaurs. In some waters they have really strict protections. What a cool fish. 

 

You are correct, sir.

 

Cherokee's (where this one was caught) paddlefish season is only like 15 days long. Illegal to keep them outside of that. Dude caught this fish with two days left on the clock. lol

[AlabamaSpothunter]

This might be one fish that you can't use FFS to "catch" in the future.   It just seems way to easy to snag them with FFS.  Then again I've never tried it, or even Paddle snagged.  

[gim]

1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

I believe they’re related to sturgeon as well which are also dinosaurs. In some waters they have really strict protections.

Yes, they are related.  Although they are not from the same genus of fish.  Scientists have dated both of them back 300 million years, so they are literally prehistoric living fossils.

 

The one major difference is that sturgeon have a submersible suction mouth with barbels and they eat stuff off the bottom while spoonbills are filter feeders.  That's why you have to catch one by trying to snag it whereas you actually fish for sturgeon with bait right on the bottom.

 

Here in MN there is an open season for lake sturgeon on the Rainy River (MN-Canada border water) during certain portions of the year.  One of these years I am going up to the Rainy River to target those living fossils.  There is no open season for paddlefish here.  I believe the closest legal open season from here is in South Dakota on the Platte River.

 

I can't imagine even trying to eat either one.  Prehistoric filets?  That has to taste awful no matter how you prepare it.

[TnRiver46]

24 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

This might be one fish that you can't use FFS to "catch" in the future.   It just seems way to easy to snag them with FFS.  Then again I've never tried it, or even Paddle snagged.  

I’ve seen people snag them with FFS haha

11 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Yes, they are related.  Although they are not from the same genus of fish.  Scientists have dated both of them back 300 million years, so they are literally prehistoric living fossils.

 

The one major difference is that sturgeon have a submersible suction mouth with barbels and they eat stuff off the bottom while spoonbills are filter feeders.  That's why you have to catch one by trying to snag it whereas you actually fish for sturgeon with bait right on the bottom.

 

Here in MN there is an open season for lake sturgeon on the Rainy River (MN-Canada border water) during certain portions of the year.  One of these years I am going up to the Rainy River to target those living fossils.  There is no open season for paddlefish here.  I believe the closest legal open season from here is in South Dakota on the Platte River.

 

I can't imagine even trying to eat either one.  Prehistoric filets?  That has to taste awful no matter how you prepare it.

Paddlefish is delicious by all first hand accounts, so is sturgeon. Then there is the ultra valuable caviar in each fish, now that actually is terrible 

[gim]

18 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Paddlefish is delicious by all first hand accounts, so is sturgeon. Then there is the ultra valuable caviar in each fish, now that actually is terrible 

The caviar is the part that actually has value!  BARF

 

Its safe to say I will never try either one.  Double BARF

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

The caviar is the part that actually has value!  BARF

 

Its safe to say I will never try either one.  Double BARF

My buddies that give me tons of deer, elk, turkey, etc won’t give me two things, both considered “ribeye”  : paddlefish and sandhill crane. They keep that for themselves 

 

I’ve had sturgeon meat at a 5 star restaurant 

[Jar11591]

33 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I can't imagine even trying to eat either one.  Prehistoric filets?  That has to taste awful no matter how you prepare it.

From what I’ve heard their roe is popular as caviar though

[gim]

5 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

From what I’ve heard their roe is popular as caviar though

Won't catch me trying it.  If @TnRiver46 won't eat it, you know its bad.

[TnRiver46]

9 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Won't catch me trying it.  If @TnRiver46 won't eat it, you know its bad.

I’ve never tried it but I asked some ultra rich people if it was good, they all said no. They ate it to be polite haha

[Tennessee Boy]

It’s my understanding that Paddlefish are filter feeders.  How do you catch a filter feeder?  Do they make zooplankton lures? ?

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

It’s my understanding that Paddlefish are filter feeders.  How do you catch a filter feeder.  Do they make zooplankton lures? ?

While their primary diet is zooplankton, they are known to eat insects, larvae and occasionally small fish.

This one in TN was caught by a guy fly fishing. https://flylordsmag.com/68-lb-paddlefish-caught-on-the-fly/

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

It’s my understanding that Paddlefish are filter feeders.  How do you catch a filter feeder?  Do they make zooplankton lures? ?

Giant snagging hook and sinker. Go below a dam when the season is open, it’s a sight to behold. Maybe wear a helmet. It looks like the most exhausting form of fishing you could ever dream of , guys have to take turns. And there are Russians trying to illegally buy the fish every time one hits the bank. It’s a riot in many ways